The Trap-Breaking Army was waiting at Danzhou's military harbor, so Lan Tian did not linger long at the Agricultural College. His meeting with Li Shi was merely a minor interlude.
As the son of an old friend from the same hometown, Lan Tian could not possibly see him and offer no care. He understood that waters too clear held no fish; being too cold and unfeeling would only keep outsiders at a distance. Before leaving, he not only instructed Bao Yu and Cheng Bing, but also asked Li Yi, Danzhou's governor, to check in on him from time to time.
At the end of January, the fleet reached Panyu Harbor. Without waiting for the Trap-Breaking Army to assemble, Lan Tian returned to the city ahead of Gao Yuan.
The final thorn in Jiao Province's side had been dealt with. Lan Tian was eager to learn what was happening in Guanzhong and Huainan. Whether Liu Bei could successfully seize the Yong-Liang Region concerned his next moves.
If Liu Bei could take Guanzhong and establish a firm foothold there, he could join forces with Guan Yu in Xiangyang. At that point, whether Eastern Wu was kept around to distract the State of Wei would no longer matter.
But if something went wrong in this battle for Guanzhong, then no matter how unpleasant that "loach" of Eastern Wu looked, it would have to be kept for the time being to draw away Wei's attention.
Lan Tian had just dismounted outside the provincial offices when he saw Song Chen emerge from the gatehouse.
"Have you been waiting long?" Lan Tian asked as he walked.
Song Chen smiled. "I only got here a little while ago."
"How did you know sir wanted to see you? We hadn't even had time to catch our breath, and